Syracuse, N.Y. -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo has fired New York's chief of emergency management after learning he had government workers clear a tree at his Long Island home during Hurricane Sandy, an administration official told The New York Times on Wednesday.

The Times first reported the story about Steven Kuhr, the director of the State Office of Emergency Management. Kuhr made $153,000 a year to lead the state's response to disaster and coordinate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

From the Times report: "During the storm, Mr. Kuhr, who lives in Suffolk County, was working in Albany. At a time when work crews were in high demand, he is believed to have told the Suffolk County Office of Emergency Management to clear a tree from his driveway, an administration official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the dismissal had not yet been made public."

As of 9:45 a.m. today, Cuomo had not put out a formal statement on the matter.